Today, I had my second lesson with Tabitha, my swimming instructor. Last week, we spent the session on the different strokes. This week, I wanted to concentrate on the prerequisites for the lifeguarding course. My class starts on Sunday. During the first class, I’ll have to swim 300 yards continuously, tread water for 2 minutes without using hands,and complete a timed event. The timed event includes swimming 20 yards, diving down for a brick, retrieving it, then swimming on my back with the brick on my front back to the starting end of the pool. The timed event ends with getting out of the pool without using the ladder or ramp.

I had never tried to dive for the brick before. I was confident that I would be able to do this task, but knew that I needed some advice and practice. Tabitha is great and I was able to watch her get the brick several times and she guided me through it. After trying many times, I was able to get the brick on more than one occasion.

Toward the end of the lesson, we decided to have me try the timed event. I was able to swim down, dive and retrieve the brick and get back to the start on my back in 1 minute, 37 seconds. We have 1 minute, 40 seconds to complete the event. I was thrilled that I was able to retrieve the brick on the first try after swimming 20 yards.

It dawned on me that the time probably includes getting out of the pool. I’ve never got out of the pool without using the ladder or ramp. We practiced in the deep and shallow ends today. At the very end of the lesson, I was able to put it together and get out of the pool! I was psyched!

I’m hoping for a bit more practice time on Friday. I mostly don’t want to embarrass myself on Sunday when I’m in the formal class. I’m confident that as long as I can complete the prerequisites, my instructor will be able to teach me the other lifeguarding skills needed to get certified.